David Rudd

Co-Founder and Scientific Director of National Center for Veterans Studies

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

exercise is a great example of how to effectively regulate and manage emotions #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

family and friends can prove essential to effective management of a suicidal crisis, most reasons for living are the people we love #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

about half of those struggling with PTSD have had thoughts of suicide #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

The most effective treatments post-suicide attempt don't require hospitalization #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

our latest treatment is only 12 hours and reduced suicide risk and PTSD symptoms significantly #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

There are quite a few treatments that lower risk and reduce the rates of suicide attempts after treatment #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

creating a new problem (substance abuse) never solves the first one #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

all vets need to know that the worst possible response to PTSD and depressive symptoms is substance use, it only makes things worse #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

stigma and substance use are cultural variables that will have to change for suicides to be reduced in the military #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

many times, the first effort to resolve sleep problems leads to substance abuse in vets #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

men in general, not just the military, don' like to ask for help #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

easy access to weapons is a huge challenge in the military, easy access and quick decision making means lives lost #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

not aware of any research that would suggest that's the case, anecdotally it doesn't look that way #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

knowing how to ask for help takes skill, a skill many young men lack and one compounded by stigma #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

screening is helpful, but convincing vets to enter and stay in care is a more significant challenge #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

Post deployment screening is almost uniform now #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

There's a lot of screening, the problem is that it's all self-report #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

Family can play a big role in keeping vets in treatment as well #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

arguably, the highest period of risk is immediately following discharge, i.e., after hospitalization for a suicidal episode #vetchat

[David Rudd @DrDRudd]

the persistence of mental illness without treatment always raises risk#vetchat